Small Fire At Driskill Hotel In Downtown Austin

Austin TX

17 May, 2021

11:01 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — A small fire at the Driskill Hotel has prompted an evacuation and closure of Brazos Street between East 6th and 7th Street Monday morning. Austin Fire reports the small fire took place on the 1oth floor of the historic hotel on Brazos Street around 7:30 a.m. Monday. The hotel's sprinkler system was able to put out the fire as fire crews worked to mitigate the smoke and water in the area, fire officials said. Only one room was impacted by the small blaze. Small fire on 10th floor of The Driskill hotel has been extinguished by sprinkler system. Crews working to mitigate smoke and water. pic.twitter.com/m0qx8Hp2fr— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) May 17, 2021 At 9:30 a.m., fire officials said its crews were using a machine called the "Smoke Buster" to mitigate remaining smoke from the hotel's upper floors. Austin fire has yet to determine the cause of the fire and will continue to investigate, authorities said. The Driskill Hotel has been an important part of the city's history for more than 135 years. It was first built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, who wanted to build one of the finest hotels in the state at the time. The hotel is two years older than the Texas State Capitol.